Chick-fil-A shows true colors during storm

Some of the drivers had been stuck in their cars for nearly seven hours without any food or water. So the staff of the Chick-fil-A decided to lend a helping hand.

“We cooked several hundred sandwiches and stood out on both sides of 280 and handed out the sandwiches to anyone we could get to – as long as we had food to give out.”

The staffers braved the falling snow and ice, slipping and sliding, as they offered hot juicy chicken breasts tucked between two buttered buns. And Chick-fil-A refused to take a single penny for their sandwiches.

The meal was a gift – no strings attached.

Their kindness didn’t stop there, however.

“We opened up our dining room to anyone who wanted to sleep on a bench or a booth,” Audrey told me.

And this morning, the weary staff members fired up their ovens and began preparing chicken biscuits. The only thing that is closed – is Chick-fil-A’s cash register.

“We’re not open for business,” she said. ‘We’re just feeding people who are hungry.”

Call me crazy, but I think you’d be hard-pressed to find another restaurant chain whose employees would so spontaneously give of themselves to their fellow citizens in a time of need.

"When leaders define a clear and compelling mission and develop a distinct culture of values within a company, employees know how to act on their own.What does this have to do with business?

I would argue that this act was a result of leadership and culture. These employees weren’t told what to do by the corporate leadership. They weren’t acting “on orders.” It seems fairly clear to me that they were simply fulfilling the company’s mission and ethos – a mission and ethos that has been promulgated and inculcated by the leaders of Chick-fil-A to a remarkable degree.

The point being that true leadership – even when controversial – makes giving orders and enforcing “rules” unnecessary. When leaders define a clear and compelling mission and develop a distinct culture of values within a company, employees know how to act on their own. The leaders of Chick-fil-A have done so, and they should be very proud.

Comments (220 posted)

Like an early commenter pointed out, this article is about people being good to people. Simple as that. A few people with compassionate hearts providing thoughtful, temporary relief to those in temporary inconvenience. Someone once said, "If your friend is grieving or in need, don't ask what you can do. Look for something that will help them somehow, and just do it." It has nothing to do with religion, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.

<satire>
If you eat at Chick Fil a then you hate gays. If you use JavaScript then you hate gays (because the author of JavaScript hates gays). If you love someone of the opposite sex then you hate gays. It's real simple. You know they must have given the cold sandwiches to the gay drivers. Their gaydar just "let them know" which ones were gay and therefore which ones to give the cold sandwhiches to.
</satire>

Sorry buddy, your still the loser! Your comment was extremely childish and irrelevant. Comparing Apple and CFA, really? Not even in the same ballpark. Your obviously an opinionated homosexual who cannot accept other peoples viewpoints.

So what is it, are you angry because the employees at CFA were recognized for their kind deeds during a time of need and other (pro gay) employers and yourself were not? Or are you REALLY angry because a company who you don't share the same beliefs with was publicly recognized? If you look closely, the article never indicates that the CFA employees helped out "because of God". I feel they decided to help out because they felt bad for people suffering during a tough time, it is that simple. If your frustration was truly about the "recognition factor", then you wouldn't even have had to mention that you were gay. You expect people to understand and accept you and your beliefs, but are you willing to tolerate and accept those who do not share the same beliefs as you? Your comments really made you look foolish and ignorant.

Everyone seems to be missing the genuine point of this article. The point is not that Chic-Fil-A is a Christian based company that does not believe in Gay People being together. This article is about a companies employees came to people in a time of need and provided food and drink to help get them through a tough time. This is considered a reflection on the leadership on the company they work for. The question we need to ask ourselves is: Why can't we see a good deed done in this country without seeing an ulterior motive? Or better yet why do we have to look at whatever political or religious beliefs the Company or Person may have that is doing the deed. If we want to consider ourselves a truly tolerant society, we should be tolerant of peoples beliefs whether we disagree with them or not. We can be tolerant and respectful and still disagree. That is what this Country was founded on. The ability to believe what you want without risk of reprisal or persecution as long as it does not interfere with the rights and lives of others.

What a heartwarming story of generosity! I'm just not sure it has anything too do with Chick-fil-A.
From the limited research I did, and I admit that it was limited, it appears that Chick-fil-A is a Franchise business. That means that any franchised restaurant is an independent business absorbing its own losses and reaping its own gains. If this was a franchise restaurant, the generosity had nothing to do with the generosity of Chick-fil-A and all to do with the generosity of the restaurant/franchise owner.

Why does Chick-Fil-A get the only recognition here? This was not something they alone did, many many other restaurants did the same thing. Here in Atlanta people went into their own houses and made food and carried sandwiches, food, drinks all down the roads feeding people, many people, myself included went out and brought strangers that were stuck in front of my house inside to the warmth, since I was in walking distance of work, I was able to get home, brought these people in from the streets, gave them food, a place to sleep, a bathroom, company, conversations, power to charge their phones so they could call and make sure their families and friends were all safe. Pillows, blankets, bed, couches, chairs the floors of my house were full and I did it ONLY because I am a decent human being, has nothing to do with being Christian or not- OH and I"m also gay, where is my article or parade for that? I do not get it and I DO NOT WANT OR ASK FOR IT, because I was doing what I was supposed to do and helping my fellow man- you didn't see my pull a Chich-Fil- A and alert the media or anything liike they apparently did in an attempt at good PR. Every store here in GA, Home Depot (pro gay employer) opened their stores and collected people from the streets- where is their praise? Walmart, Waffle House, where are you singing their praises? Just because they don't use the name of God, you won't pay attention to them, and the people like me who did it for no praise or attention don't get recognized by you people because we don't announce it and say we did it "because of God". One woman in her 80's I brought in, sweet Christian lady, knew I was gay, and she showed me so much love and kindness, and she and I are in touch still, does not judge me all because she knows I am who I am and judged me based on my kindness and not who I sleep with, something you all should do. You want CFA judged on this one act, not on the millions they give to groups that discriminate, and spread hatred, not only of gays, but women, and children!

well if you don't want recognition then why you getting all mad cuz no one saw what you did? and we didn't need to know you were gay all you had to say was what you did for some one, the problem is we don't care you are gay its the sin that is being judged not you?

Jackson,
You are offended that the company who's owner happens to believe marriage should be between a man and a woman got some recognition for some reason??? You probably believed the crap the media was spinning how Chic-Fil-A is a bunch of NAZI loving criminal old white men that wants to put all non-caucasians, non-heterosexual, into the GAS CHAMBER if you dare enter their restaurant.
Is it only the Liberal Mind that can express itself today without being prosecuted? You are obviously deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize for your effort in saving millions of people in Atlanta during that horrible winter storm (I bet it was all caused by GLOBAL WARMING).
Chic Fil-A is a good company, they do good things, and because the owner has his belief in GOD, that does not make the company bad. We have the first Ammendment in this country, FREEDOM of SPEECH, look it up, and get over yourself.

The biggest difference is someone else blew the horn for Chck-Fil-A while you had to blow your own horn. CFA is like this on a daily basis while you had to brag because you did it one day, IF you really did.

You are apparently a jealous person who really cares not for right or wrong but rather, for your own limelight. I commend CFA, as they are always doing something for their communities, many of which like you, fail to see that they do it as an embodiment of the Christ, rather than as a publicity stunt.

I love CFA. I love their food, their employees' attitudes, their desire to help their neighbors with no desire for the publicity you so desperately seek and their willingness to stand for what they and many Christians and non-Christians alike see as right versus wrong.

My hope for you is that one day, you too will be able give of yourself to your fellow man with no need to advertise the facts. That you will be able to help others without a wandering eye looking for a camera to memorialize the moment and that you will see that you really should not let the left hand know what the right is doing.

Okay so your gay fine, be gay. Chic fil A is still a great company and their founder is a good and decent man. Just because he doesn't believe as you believe doesn't mean that he is this evil hate monger. Burning gays alive?!!! when did that happen? Love Chic-fi-la not necessarily because of their beliefs but because they make great chicken sandwiches. I also support many resturants owned by gays not because of their beliefs because of their great food and service. Get over yourself.

It is stated in the Bible that homosexuality is an abomination to God. Man may change HIS mind as to what is acceptable, but God's Word, and desire as to what is acceptable to Him is forever stated
in the infallible Bible, which is God's inspired feeelings.
You cannot be both Christian, and homosexual. Homosexuality is a perversion, and an abomination before God. God does NOT change HIS mind. Homosexuality, and Christianity are mutually exclusive, and incompatible. One must choose perversity, or living as God intended man to live. That's why He gave us "Free Will" to choose between right and wrong.

You are correct that the Bible condemns gays; anyone who believes in a literal translation of the Bible cannot deny that.

However, the Catholics are the ones who compiled the works to create The New Testament; you'll note many evangelicals will claim Catholics have "extra" books added to The Old Testament; which evangelicals will often refer to as the "Jewish Bible". These works were added because they were considered as historically accurate as other parts of The Old Testament, and also supported the Coming of Christ. It was the Council of Nicea, and they are the basis of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church does not believe in a literal translation of the Bible; it is a guide, not a rulebook. And since they're the ones who "built" the Bible, their opinion should carry significant weight, should it not?

The book of Jubilees is the narrative of Genesis amplified and EMBELLISHED by a Jew.

The Bible is meant to be literal as an assumption. Most certainly the ten commandments were as well as the Mosaic law when it was in place. In many places it's a story written for our understanding like the scorpions that sting in times of revelation that cause men torment for 5 months, to me that's symbolic and then there are sections that can be interpreted either way like the walls of Jericho being taken out by the sound of a trumpet obviously the literal sound of a trumpet blown by human lungs did not blow apart fortification walls, but did it usher in supernatural event like God literally blowing up or knocking down the wall, or an earthquake God created or knew would happen anyways, or did it dispirit or terrorize the enemy, well in one respect it des not matter because they obeyed God and got results.

Likewise as with all the symbolic or assumed symbolic stories and principles, what difference does it make to the point of following Biblical principles whether God smacks you with the paddle of your conscience, or has your parents, teacher, law enforcement etc. literally smack you with a physical paddle it's a really good idea to follow Biblical principles. The principles are certainly clear enough and in the end there absolutely will be consequences and rewards based on our relationship with God and our willingness to understand and follow the will of God.

The Bible also says you should kill disobedient children, stone adulterers, not let men into church who have lost a testicle, avoid women on their period etc etc etc . It is full of nonsense. Like most religious fanatics you pick and choose what you want and ignore the rest. Or do you support the former stands also?

I'm a nurse and was stranded at a 950 bed hospital in Birmingham, AL. We were caught by surprise during this snow storm, as it was predicted to hit over 100 miles south of us. After a couple of days, the hospital was running out of food for the staff, as the trucks couldn't deliver our supplies... This article doesn't mention how Chick-fil-A delivered boxes of sandwiches and drinks to our ENTIRE staff, never accepting a dime and never asking about our sexual orientation. It is heartwarming how this franchise endures harsh criticsim over their values and beliefs, still strongly stands by them and is still UBER successful. I have homosexual friends who still frequently eat there because, like myself, they respect the values of others even when said values are at opposite ends of the spectrum from their own.

I'm a nurse and was actually stranded at a 950 bed hospital in Birmingham, AL. The snow storm hit us by surprise and after a day or so, the hospital was running out of food for the staff as the food trucks weren't able to deliver our supplies... This article doesn't mention that Chic-fil-A delivered boxes of sandwiches and drinks to the ENTIRE staff, never accepting a dime! This franchise isn't pushy with their beliefs. It's very heartwarming how this company endures harsh criticism, maintains their values and is still UBER sucessfull! I have homosexual friends who still eat there regularly because, like myself, they respect the values of others. The world would be a better place, in my opinion, if more people simply respected others' values.